Author: the_fodmap_medic

I just thought I’d share with you guys some of my fave snack foods! When dealing with IBS, it’s always a good idea to have a few bits in your bag for those munchie moments that you know you can rely on not to make you so bloated! Fruit Original, I know, but think of […]

The medications your doctor might prescribe you for IBS are likely to be based on the symptoms you’re having. The cause of IBS is not crystal clear, but appears to be due to many things: diet, stress, exercise, sleep – these are all things which can make IBS flare up. If you’re constipated… Your doctor […]

The three stages of trialling a low FODMAP diet are: Elimination Reintroduction “Personalise” So, you’ve trialled a good period of eliminating high-FODMAP foods. You think it’s helping. Now what? The next stage should be reintroduction. However, I feel many of us are getting stuck in stage 1, because we feel less bloated and have gained […]

I’m gonna keep this short, but I think it’s a point worth raising. Have you been to Japan? I went last July: One of the big differences over there is the toilets. Or, more accurately, the holes in the ground: For a country which boasts such an incredible culture of respect towards health, environment and […]

Okay, I admit I’ve been AWOL for a WHILE. So, what the hell have I been eating all this time? First things first: I’m not eating meat anymore. Well. Kinda. Going vegan This year, I did Veganuary (= Vegan + January to the uninitiated). I never in a million years thought I could give […]

Don’t be put off by chickpeas when you’re following a low-FODMAP diet. They are high in oligosaccharides (fOdmap), but in larger quantities only. As with any ingredient in a low-FODMAP diet consider a) your own tolerances and b) trialling ingredients so you can really limit how much you’re cutting out. Most things are fine when […]

Increasing your risk of being deficient in certain vitamins and minerals is often used as an argument not to follow a plant-based diet, that is, one which is free from meat, eggs, fish and dairy. “In the UK, it is estimated that well-planned completely plant-based, or vegan, diets need just one third of the fertile […]

What do you know about organic food? Or, at least, what do you think you know about organic produce? Anyone who knows me well will know that I feel very passionately opposed to organic produce. In this post I hope I can persuade you of the myths surrounding organic produce and the global impact of […]

Think the low FODMAP diet isn’t working for you? Think again… Here are five things that make a difference to my IBS, even though I follow a low-FODMAP diet: 1. Disorganization. So, you’re eating mostly low-FODMAP foods, but at least once a day you’re eating things you know might set you off or having a […]

Maybe you think you’ve got IBS, but you’re not sure; maybe you’re not actually sure what it means to have IBS. This short article explains how we as doctors diagnose IBS. With around 10% of the population estimated to have IBS, not all will have been diagnosed. It’s a diagnosis of exclusion This […]

Here, I will take a leaf from Radio 1’s book and play a little game of Real or No Real…play along at home as I take you on a fact-filled journey into IBS! It’s to do with being irritable. IBS is the same as IBD. IBS means you have constipation or diarrhoea. IBS is all […]